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Can I use my EV to power my home in the UK? And how does it work?

can i use my ev to power my home uk?

Can I power my home with my EV right now in the UK?

Short answer:

  • Yes, in principle. With certain cars and a certified bidirectional (V2H or V2G) charger.

  • In practice, only a limited number of vehicles and chargers are fully supported today, and DNO permission plus a specialist installer (like Optimum Electrics) is essential.

  • V2L (plugging appliances in) is widely available and very practical already, but it’s not the same as feeding your whole house via the fuse board.

So it’s possible, but it’s not yet as plug-and-play as a standard home charger or a dedicated home battery.


How does bidirectional charging actually work?

At a simple level:

  1. Your EV battery stores energy – either from the grid (cheap off-peak electricity) or from your solar PV system.

  2. A bidirectional charger converts the battery DC into AC power that your home and the grid can use, and back again.

  3. A smart control system decides when to:

    • Charge the car

    • Run the house from the car

    • Export to the grid (for V2G)


What do “Vehicle-to-Home, Grid and Load” actually mean?

Normal charging is one-way: electricity flows from the grid into your car. Bidirectional charging lets electricity flow both ways – into and out of your EV battery. That enables three main modes:

  • V2H – Vehicle-to-Home

    Your car effectively becomes a home battery. A special charger connects your EV to your consumer unit so it can power your home circuits, usually during peak-price times or during a power cut.

  • V2G – Vehicle-to-Grid

    Your EV exports energy back to the UK electricity grid via a smart tariff. You charge when electricity is cheap and green, then sell it back when demand (and prices) are higher.

  • V2L – Vehicle-to-Load

    Your EV powers individual appliances, not your whole house. Think: plugging in a kettle, laptop, power tools, or even a small heater via a 3-pin socket or an adapter from the car’s charge port. V2L is the bit that’s most common on cars today.


This needs:

  • Communication between car, charger and grid (often using standards like ISO 15118).

  • An inverter in either the charger or the car to switch between AC and DC.

  • Grid-code-compliant hardware and DNO approval in the UK (G99 for most V2H/V2G installations).

When Optimum Electrics designs these systems, we also look at how they interact with solar PV and any fixed home battery, so everything plays nicely together instead of fighting for control.


V2H vs V2G vs V2L – what’s the difference in real life?


Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)

  • Your EV powers your home through a dedicated bidirectional charger wired into your consumer unit.

  • Works like a big home battery on wheels:

    • Charge overnight on a cheap tariff or from solar.

    • Run the home during peak-price times.

    • Provide backup in a power cut (depending on the system design).

UK manufacturers such as Indra are pioneering V2H-ready chargers and technology aimed specifically at home use. Indra Renewable Technologies+1


Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)

  • Your EV is used as a flexible grid asset:

    • Top up when there’s plenty of renewable energy and prices are low.

    • Export back when the grid is under strain and prices are high.

  • There have been several UK trials with energy suppliers such as OVO/Kaluza and others, mainly using CHAdeMO-equipped cars like the Nissan Leaf. Ofgem+1

  • The UK government and Ofgem see V2G as part of the wider “clean flexibility” roadmap to make better use of renewables and reduce system costs. GOV.UK+1


Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)

  • You plug devices directly into the car via:

    • A built-in 230V socket inside the car; or

    • A V2L adapter that plugs into the Type 2 charging port and provides a 13A socket.

  • Typically up to around 2–3.6 kW – enough for tools, camping kit, or to keep essential loads running in a power cut.

  • It’s brilliant for work sites, camping, outdoor events, and occasional backup, but it doesn’t integrate with your home wiring by default.


Which EVs in the UK can be used to power my home?

This is moving quickly, so always check at the quote stage, but as of late 2025:


Cars with practical V2G / V2H support in the UK (or active pilots).

These are models that have been used in real-world UK or European V2G/V2H trials, or are recognised as V2H-capable by UK sources:


  • Nissan Leaf (all generations, CHAdeMO)

    • The original V2G workhorse in the UK, widely used in trials with OVO/Kaluza and others.

  • VW ID. Buzz and wider VW ID range (CCS)

    • Hardware designed for V2H/V2G; early implementations and pilots emerging.

  • Cupra Born / Tavascan (selected variants)

    • Demonstrated working with Wallbox Quasar 2 V2H/V2G charger in Europe, with hardware suited to bidirectional use.

  • BYD and MG models (selected)

    • BYD Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal and MG ZS EV have been highlighted in UK sources as V2H-testing candidates and “battery-for-home” capable, though support is often tied to specific trials/tariffs rather than mass-market solutions yet.

  • Polestar 3, Renault 5 EV, Kia EV9 and others

    • Marketed as bidirectional-ready or V2H/V2G-capable in Europe, with software/charger support gradually rolling out.


In nearly all cases, you still need a compatible, certified bidirectional charger and a supportive energy supplier – the fact the car is “technically capable” doesn’t automatically mean you can use V2H/V2G at home yet.


Cars with V2L (appliance power) but not full V2H/V2G in the UK (yet)

Many popular EVs already include V2L; examples frequently mentioned in UK and European guides include:

  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6

  • Kia EV6, EV9, Niro EV

  • MG4, MG5, MG ZS EV

  • BYD Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal

  • Genesis electric models

  • Audi Q4 e-tron, Peugeot e-3008 and others

These cars are excellent for V2L, and many have the hardware needed for future V2H/V2G, but are currently marketed in the UK primarily for powering devices, not for fully powering your house via a certified home system.


What equipment do I need for bidirectional charging at home?

To actually power your house or the grid from your EV in the UK, you’ll typically need:

  1. A compatible EV

    • Must support bidirectional charging at the hardware and software level.

    • Check with both the vehicle manufacturer and your installer – marketing claims and real-world support can differ.

  2. A certified bidirectional charger

    • This could be a DC charger (like early Wallbox Quasar/Quasar 2 types) or next-generation AC bidirectional chargers now being trialled to cut cost.

    • UK-made options like Indra V2H are designed specifically for British homes and tariffs.

  3. Correct electrical installation

    • Connection into your consumer unit with appropriate protection and isolation.

    • Potential rewiring or load-splitting so the system understands what’s being powered from where.

    • DNO approval (typically G99) for any generation or export back to the grid.

  4. Smart metering and tariffs

    • Smart meter to track import/export.

    • A suitable EV or export tariff if you’re doing V2G – some suppliers offer specific V2G tariffs, others focus on cheap off-peak charging.

  5. Integration with solar PV and (optional) home battery

    • If you already have solar, you’ll want everything coordinated so:

      • Solar can charge the EV.

      • The EV can support the home.

      • Export is controlled to maximise value.

    • This is where using one company (like Optimum Electrics) for solar + batteries + EV charging pays off, because the design is done as one system rather than separate bolt-ons.


What are the benefits of bidirectional charging?

Done properly, bidirectional charging can offer serious advantages:

1. Lower energy bills

  • Charge your EV when electricity is cheap (overnight or off-peak).

  • Use that stored energy to run the house during expensive peak periods.

  • With the right tariff and control, this can significantly cut annual bills, especially when combined with solar PV.

2. Better use of your solar

  • On a sunny day, surplus solar can go into your EV.

  • In the evening, your EV can then power the home (V2H) rather than exporting everything for a low SEG rate.

  • That makes your solar system even more effective and can reduce the need for a separate fixed battery, depending on your lifestyle.

3. Backup power and resilience

  • During UK power cuts, a well-designed V2H system can keep critical loads running – lighting, Wi-Fi, fridge/freezer, perhaps even heating controls – using your EV battery as backup storage.

4. Support for a greener, more flexible grid

  • V2G and smart charging help the UK integrate more wind and solar by smoothing peaks and troughs in demand.

  • At scale, this reduces the need for fossil-fuel power and supports the UK’s Net Zero targets.

5. Potential earnings from V2G

  • Some trial tariffs have paid EV drivers for letting their cars participate in grid balancing.

  • As Ofgem and the government push clean flexibility, more consumer-friendly V2G offers are likely to appear over time. GOV.UK+1


Are there any downsides or things to watch?

A good installer should talk you through:

  • Compatibility – most UK EVs still don’t support full V2H/V2G in practice yet.

  • Charger cost – bidirectional chargers are currently more expensive than standard home chargers.

  • Complexity and change – tariffs, standards and product offerings are evolving quickly.

  • Battery warranty – manufacturers are slowly embracing bidirectional use, but you should always check what’s allowed under your EV’s warranty.


Often, the best approach today is to:

  • Design your solar + EV charger + home wiring in a way that is “future-proofed” for V2H/V2G, even if you don’t enable it immediately.

  • Use V2L for ad-hoc appliance power and resilience where your car supports it.


How Optimum Electrics can help

Optimum Electrics is:

  • A trusted EV charger installer for homeowners and businesses across East Anglia and the surrounding areas.

  • A 5-star rated, MCS-certified solar installer, experienced in integrating solar PV, home batteries, and EV charging into one coherent system.

We can:

  • Assess whether your current or planned EV is a good candidate for bidirectional use.

  • Design and install smart EV charging that works with your solar and your tariff today – and is ready for V2H/V2G tomorrow.

  • Help you understand whether:

    • A standard smart charger + home battery,

    • A V2H/V2G-ready EV system, or

    • A blend of both gives you the best return on investment.


Thinking about using your EV to power your home?

If you’d like tailored advice based on your car, your house, your tariff, and your solar plans, get in touch with the Optimum Electrics team.


We’ll walk you through the options in plain English, design a system that fits your lifestyle, and handle everything from DNO applications to final commissioning, so your EV, solar and home all work together as one smart, efficient system.


01733 601698

 

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